Assassin Imperial Stout - Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

qthompso

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a pair of pint glasses. Extremely dark brown, almost pitch black with a reddish hue near the edge of the glass. Essentially no head and absolutely no lacing.

Smells of chocolate and dark, tart cherries. Based on the issues they had with the seeping, I'm picking up a faint note of soy sauce that will hopefully fade in the taste.

The taste is super roasty. Dark chocolate and think molasses towards the front with a deep red fruit. Virtually no bitterness in this one. The finish of this one gets real boozy. To my knowledge, this is one of their first barrel aged beers and it's certainly over the top. I'm a fan of barrel aged stouts but this one is borderline overdone with the finish.

Quite thick and full bodied up front with the flavor complexities. The finish is pretty smooth (albeit boozy) when you get to the barrel character. Much more carbonated than the lack of head indicated.

Overall, a pretty good first attempt. Respectable complexity that keeps you drinking. However, in the end, the booze bomb is a little overwhelming. This was from the red batch that had to remain refrigerated. I can't help but wonder how much this one would smooth out if I had been able to cellar it without it leaking all over the place.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 19:34:50 | More by qthompso

beernads

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -2%

05-18-2013 08:16:13 | More by beernads

tugg407

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -7.4%

05-16-2013 18:37:38 | More by tugg407

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

05-15-2013 14:55:33 | More by MarkIntihar

bauermj

Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.9%

05-13-2013 04:17:43 | More by bauermj

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -2%

05-13-2013 02:12:19 | More by SpdKilz

ehammond1

California

4.58/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Bottle (2013)

Thanks for opening this with me, VaTechHopHead!

Nearly black, though very heavy and substantial looking in the glass. Shiny and oily, with a small brown head that leaves dots of stick.

Monstrous, rich, and lovely aroma of chocolate, bourbon character (without the heat or sting), a bit of vanilla, some raisin, and cake batter. Excellent, and, unsurprisingly, better and better as it warmed.

The flavor is similar to the aroma. Massive amounts of dark chocolate character, bourbon (wood, vanilla, dark fruit) without the accompanying alcohol harshness. This is smooth as silk and the flavors blend together marvelously. This is lacking a big roasted malt note, but it sweet, complex, and incredibly flavorful.

Full in body. Thick. Chewy. Substantial. Monstrous stuff.

Simply fantastic. I was definitely blown away by this beauty.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 15:46:02 | More by ehammond1

JohnDunbar

Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.9%

05-12-2013 01:07:56 | More by JohnDunbar

phishphorce

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2%

05-09-2013 01:39:53 | More by phishphorce

C2H5

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

05-07-2013 00:25:06 | More by C2H5

Pete27lax

New York

5/5  rDev +8.9%

05-06-2013 08:04:07 | More by Pete27lax

striker2160

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

05-05-2013 15:20:20 | More by striker2160

akuyper

Iowa

5/5  rDev +8.9%

05-03-2013 16:08:15 | More by akuyper

doucmehu

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +8.9%

05-03-2013 04:00:42 | More by doucmehu

bpfrush

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

05-01-2013 01:04:35 | More by bpfrush

injuredreserve

Louisiana

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

04-30-2013 22:40:43 | More by injuredreserve

rodkin

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev -7.4%

04-29-2013 19:03:49 | More by rodkin

baybum

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

04-29-2013 17:00:02 | More by baybum

cfrances33

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

04-29-2013 13:47:49 | More by cfrances33

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

04-28-2013 19:26:10 | More by CanisMajor

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%

04-28-2013 16:16:16 | More by Soneast

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -2%

04-28-2013 15:15:30 | More by eyeenjoybeer

Etan

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -2%

04-28-2013 04:45:35 | More by Etan

xxcarpxx

Alabama

5/5  rDev +8.9%

04-26-2013 22:52:01 | More by xxcarpxx

jegross2

Illinois

3.91/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing the 2012 vintage of Assassin Imperial Stout (Red Wax version) from Toppling Goliath Brewery out of Decorah, Iowa.

Score: 88

Early 2012 vintage bottle (red wax version) served in a Tyranena snifter and enjoyed on 01/25/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Coffee color body with minimal head off the pour in the form of mocha-colored swirls. No lacing or retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Vanilla, whiskey, brownies and milk chocolate. Dark fruit too. 4.25/5

Taste: Chocolate, whiskey, and a little soy sauce-like flavor. Burnt caramel, vanilla and a touch of booze too. A little spice. Slightly oxidized, but in a way that plays decently well with the spice quality. A little sweet. No coffee whatsoever. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and under carbonated. Has a nice rye-like kick on tongue that makes up for the under-carbonation. Finishes very dry, almost chalky -- like a less dry The Count. 4/5

Overall: This is a really good beer that just did not deliver out of the bottle when aged. I have had this one fresher, and it was much better. The 2012 vintage bottles had some issues (e.g., the brew is filled so high up in the bottle that it leaks if not refridgerated), so I encourage folks to give Toppling Goliath the benefit of the doubt on this one and seek out the 2013 vintage that was just released. I will review the new release when I get my hands on a bottle.

Cost: $20 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:56:08 | More by jegross2